Program Operations Manual System (POMS)

RS 01601.110 Insured Status Under the Railroad Retirement Act

At least 10 years (120 months) of RR service (including any creditable RR work before 1937 and any creditable MS) or effective 01/01/2002, if less than 10 years (120 months) of RR service but with at least 5 years (60 months) of RR service after December 31, 1995 (all or part of the required 5 years after 1995 can be military service creditable under the RR Act); and

A current connection with the RR industry; and

Sufficient QCs.

NOTE: An employee has sufficient QCs if he/she would be fully insured under the SS Act if the RR work after 1936 was counted as SS earnings; i.e., at least one QC in each year in the elapsed period, but not less than 6 QCs.

An employee is also completely insured if receiving a pension under the RR Act or a retirement annuity under the RR Act which was based on at least 10 years of creditable service and which was payable before 1948. (See RS 01601.100B.6. for definition of current connection.)

At least 10 years (120 months) of creditable RR service, including any creditable RR service before 1937 and any creditable MS or effective 01/01/2002, if less than 10 years (120 months) of RR service but with at least 5 years (60 months) of service after December 31,1995 (all or part of the required 5 years can be military service creditable under the RR Act); and

A current connection with the RR industry; and

At least 6 QCs in the period beginning with the third calendar year before he/she retired on a RR retirement annuity or died and ending with the quarter in which he/she retired or died, or would be currently insured under the SS Act if RR service after 1936 was covered by the SS Act. If the deceased worker was insured (completely or partially) under the RR Act, survivors are eligible for RR benefits. (See RS 01601.100B.6. for current connection.)